Sen. McNasty wants you to tear up your AARP membership card

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

KingofSpades posted this piece at Daily Kos: McCain finds his right-wing @ sshat. (with Poll)

McCain has really gone off the deep end now into wingnut country.  On Friday a few days ago at a townhall, he asked people to cut up their AARP membership cards.

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As everyone knows, a week-and-a-half ago, the AARP, America's largest non-corporate lobby, endorsed H.R. 3962 because the bill was going to incrementally close the Medicare Part D "donut hole" and help prevent the elderly from being left out in the cold.  This didn't please congressional Republicans one bit and they tried to downplay it. Now, McCain is joining in on the GOP's hate against the AARP for representing their members.

From Thinkprogress, McCain held a townhall meeting last Friday where healthcare reform was predictably the number one topic.  During the townhall, McCain said that in regards to reform, he will "fight with every fiber of my body." Here are some quotes lifted from thinkprogress:

The 2,000-page bill would mean more regulation and mandates, he said. People wouldn’t be able to keep the coverage they had. It would also increase taxes and the cost of Medicare, he said.

The bill claims to save $500 billion in waste from Medicare, he said.

"I don’t think so," McCain said. "I think it’s going to cut it."

He encouraged audience members to cut up their AARP cards and send them back.

Parroting right-wing talking points about the bill cutting medicare is nothing compared to the encouraging of seniors to nullify their AARP memberships. He's quite ignorant about the plight of many elderly. Senator McCain doesn't realize that unlike him, many elderly people have to live on fixed incomes and the AARP is imperative to them. It provides discounts for their medication and represents their interests in Congress.

His ill-will towards the AARP miffs me personally since my father is in the AARP and it has given him discounts on buying necessary medication. Shame on you McCain for asking the elderly to give up these benefits.  But you don't really care, you've never had to live paycheck to paycheck in all your life.

Now, I understand that McCain is swinging to the right because in 2010, he will be facing the far-right, xenophobic, militia leader Chris Simcox in the primaries.  Frankly, I don't care what happens to him. Good luck trying to "save" your sick party by putting party and posturing over country, McCain.

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P.S. I'm not saying the AARP is immaculate. They supported Bush's half-assed creation of Medicare Part D in 2003, but they did oppose his attempt to privatize social security in 2005. Seniors do like Medicare Part D despite the fact that it has a gaping donut hole. The important point is that the AARP has quite a bit of clout on legislation and the GOP is crying foul over this supposed "betrayal."

For more on the right's war with the AARP, read this article here.

John McCain has received government run health care since birth (with the exception of his stay in the Hanoi Hilton which will be the first words out of his mouth). He was born into a Navy family and went into the Navy himself. The military provided for his health care. When he retired from the Navy he was eligible for VA care. McCain has been on the congressional health care plan – which is similar to the "public option" plan being debated in Congress – since he was first elected to Congress almost 30 years ago. This angry old man has long since been eligible for Medicare.

Tell you what Johnny, put your money where your mouth is. If you want to tear up some cards why don't you start with your Medicare card, your VA card, and your congressional health care card? Reject that "socialist" government run health care you enjoy but rail against for others. I'm sure your sugar momma beer heiress wife will pay for a "Cadillac" private health insurance plan if you ask her nicely. Hell, you probably drop more than the cost of a Cadillac insurance plan at the craps table every time you feed your gambling habit. It's pocket change to you.